Lading retention apparatus

ABSTRACT

Lading retention apparatus for the interior of a railroad car or other freight transportation vehicles or container and having a plurality of pairs of horizontally elongated belt rails, each rail having an outer flat portion secured to the inside wall of the compartment and each belt rail having an inner raised part facing the other and spaced apart from the other to define an open slot space extending horizontally and lengthwise of the car with the raised portions forming a pocket for receiving a plurality of lading anchor elements therein, each element having a shaft portion extending through the slot space and a base in the pocket, the base having lugs at 90* intervals extending in holes in each rail for 90* rotation of the anchor element for different lading strap positions, the end of the anchor shaft extending outwardly of the slot spaces having pivotally attached thereon a lading strap or fiberglass belt attachment or hook element. The apparatus is also provided with anchor elements that do not pivot and have their shaft at an acute angle to their base plates for lading strap securement. The apparatus further provides angle stampings for threading the strap therethrough to protect the lading, and buckle means are employed to tighten the belt or strap around the lading.

United States Patent [191 Sichak [4 Nov. 26, 1974 [52] US. Cl 105/482, 105/409, 105/502, 105/503, 105/498 [51] Int. Cl B6111 45/00 [58] Field of Search 105/369 A, 369 B, 368 T, 105/409; 248/361 R, 361 A, 224, 244, 295, 269', 296/28 M [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,047,503 7/1936 Wilson et al. 105/369 A UX 2,688,289 9/1954 Sterling 105/369 A 3,698,678 lO/l972 Bowers 105/369 A X 3,788,240 l/1974 Nadherny 105/369 A Primary Examiner-M. Henson Wood, Jr. Assistant ExaminerGene A. Church Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Richard J. Myers [57] ABSTRACT Lading retention apparatus for the interior of a railroad car or other freight transportation vehicles or container and having a plurality of pairs of horizontally elongated belt rails, each rail having an outer flat portion secured to the inside wall of the compartment and each belt rail having an inner raised part facing the other and spaced apart from the other to define an open slot space extending horizontally and lengthwise of the car with the raised portions forming a pocket for receiving a plurality of lading anchor elements therein, each element having a shaft portion extending through the slot space and a base in the pocket, the base having lugs at 90 intervals extending in holes in each rail for 90 rotation of the anchor element for different lading strap positions, the end of the anchor shaft extending outwardly of the slot spaces having pivotally attached thereon a lading strap or fiberglass belt attachment or hook element. The apparatus is also provided with anchor elements that do not pivot and have their shaft at an acute angle to their base plates for lading strap securement. The apparatus further provides angle stampings for threading the strap therethrough to protect the lading, and buckle means are employed to tighten the belt or strap around the lading.

11 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures PATENTEL HUV 2 61974 SHEET 1!]? 2 PATENTELPIBYZWH 3.850.113

SHEEI 2 BF 2 lim 1 LADING RETENTION APPARATUS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates to lading retention or securing apparatus or cargo tying apparatus and more particularly to simplified means for securingloads, lading, or storage goods in place and the apparatus may be partially or wholly installed in substantially any type of vehicle including railroad freight cars like box cars or gondola cars, highway trailers, airplanes, ships, etc., or it may be utilized in Warehouse service.

2. Description of the Prior Art Lading strap anchor devices and belt rails for belt material in railroad cars and the like are known as, for instance, in US. Pat. Nos. 2,827,000 and 3,769,917. However, what is desired is a simplified construction of lading strap or belt anchoring or rail means that can be used with existing belt rail equipment now being used in railway cars such as, for instance, D. F. belt rails. Also it is desirable to use pivoted type anchors with the belt rails for non use storage position of the anchors. It is these types of needs that this invention provides.

SUMMARY chor for out-of-the-way storage of same. Supplementary equipment is used such as lading protecting shield with the strap and buckle means to tie the strap on the lading.

These and other objects will become apparent from reference to the following description, appended claims and attached drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is an inside view ofa wall or lading-containing box such as a railroad boxcar employing this invention;

FIG. 2 is a partial view in perspective illustrating the rails and anchor of the lading retention apparatus;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a partial front view of the inventive device shown in FIG. 2 and taken along line 4--4 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is illustrative of a lading protector or shield;

FIGS. 6 and 7 are views of a lading strap anchor which has a fixed shaft; and

FIG. 8 is a view of buckle means use in the lading retention apparatus.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT With reference to the drawings and in particular to FIG. 1, there is shown the side wall 2 of a railroad boxcar. The wall is provided with a plurality of upright side posts 4 on which are mounted a plurality of belt rails 6. It is noted that the belt rails 6 are so positioned that they are in sets of two in close proximity to one another so as to define a horizontal elongated space or slot 8 between them through which projects a lading strap or belt anchor member or element 10. The combination of the two opposing facing belt rails 6, 6 and the anchor element or elements 10 thereat and therealong constitute a lading retention device or apparatus 12.

With reference now to FIGS. 2-4, the lading retention apparatus 12 can be seen in greater detail where each companion rail belt 6 comprises a single bent plate or member 13 that is somewhat Z-shaped and has an outer or post engaging flat plate portion or flange 14 that is welded against the post 4, a bent or outwardly sloped intermediate flat plate portion 16, and an outer free end flat plate portion 18 that is spaced away from the post 4. The free end plate portion 18 has a plurality of lug receiving apertures 20. It is noted that there are a plurality of sets of two such plates 13, 13 that face each other such that their outer raised free end portions 18 face one another while the outer end portions 14 face outwardly away from one another and the facing end portions 18 define the aforesaid narrow longitudinally extending space or slot 8 between them. These sets of rails 6, 6 are spaced vertically of one another and extend lengthwise of the car in horizontal orientation. The anchor members 10 are trapped by these sets of rails 6, 6, each anchor member having a round or disc shaped base part 22 from which extends ashaft part 24 that extends in the space or slot between the adjacent rails 6, 6 of a set. The shaft part 24 extends be yond and outwardly of the free end-parts 18 of the rails 6 while the base part 22 is entrained or trapped by the rail raised parts-l8 which form a pocket 26 for the base plate 22. The base part 22 and the shaft part 24 are allowed to move longitudinally of the car in the pocket 26 but cannot be separated from the pocket or lost from the rails 6. The outer end of each shaft part 24 is pivotally attached to a belt engaging, holding and guiding part or hook 28 which has a shaft part 30 pivotally attached to shaft part 24, and a belt coupling part 32 with an elongated slot 34 therein'for entrapping the lading strap or fiberglass belt 36 therein but letting the belt 36 move through the slot 34 if desired. The anchor base part 22 is provided with four lugs or projection parts or embossments 38 each spaced 90 from the .other and complementally engaging the two 180 spaced holes 20 of adjacent cooperating rails 6, 6 of a set. It is seen that the anchor base 22 can be rotated at 90 intervals to assume the position of the upper part of FIG. 3 or the lower part of FIG. 3, depending whether it is desired to have the flat webbing of the belt 36 to extend vertically around a package or horizontally with other belt to act as a vertical load support for a package.

As seen in FIGS. 3 and 5, a ladingprotector angle plate or stamping 40 may be placed at the corner of a lading package 42. The plate 40 has plate portions 44, 46 at right angles to another and has strap guides or blocks 48. FIGS. 6 and 7 show an anchor 10a like anchor 10 except the shaft 24a .of anchor 10a does not have a pivotal lading strap hook or retainer 28, but a fixed strap retainer 28a and the shaft 24a is bent or angled so as to be closer to its base 22a so as to not be an obstacle in the freight compartment but close to the compartment wall 2.

FIG. 8 shows buckle means 50 for coupling together the ends of straps 36, 36 and includes a hook 52, catch have the disclosure before them will be able to make modifications and variations therein without departing from the scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A lading retention device for restraining lading within a cargo compartment comprising:

a pair of elongated lengthwise extending and vertically spaced belt rails, each belt rail having a first wall engaging inner plate portion and a second intermediate sloped plate portion and third outer plate portion generally parallel to the inner plate portion, said outer plate portion having a plurality of apertures extending along its length, each outer portion of each rail facing the outer portion of the other rail and defining an elongated lengthwise slot between the rails when placed on the wall of a cargo compartment,

an anchor for a lading strap and having a base disc portion adapted to be disposed in a pocket formed behind the two rails between the sloped plate portions thereof and said anchor having a shaft portion extendable through and outwardly of the slot between the rails and said anchor having a belt coupling portion with a belt slot and connecting with said shaft portion outwardly of said rails,

said elongated lengthwise slot between said rails being of sufficient height to only allow the shaft portion through but not the disc portion, and

said disc portion having lugs projecting outwardly thereform and couplable in vertically spaced apertures of the adjacent rails for holding the anchor in a fixed position when tied to lading.

2. The invention according to claim 1, and

each belt rail being generally Z-shaped.

3. The invention according to claim 1, and

said shaft portion being sloped at an acute anglewith respect to said base disc portion for keeping the device close to the cargo wall out of the way of the lading.

4. The invention according to claim 1, andsaid belt coupling portion being pivotally attached to said anchor shaft portion to allow the belt coupling to hang close to the wall.

5. The invention according to claim 1, and

said lugs being four in number, each lug being spaced generally 90 from'the other around a generally circular path whereby the lugs may rotate generally 90 to either of two positions to permit the belt slot in the belt coupling portion to be generally vertical or horizontal to restrain lading in one of two ways.

6. The invention according to claim 1, and

buckle means to couple the portions of lading belt together about the lading.

7. The invention according to claim 1, and

an angle plate with belt guide surfaces for fitting on lading corners to receive the belt as the belt passes about lading corners.

8. In a cargo container, a lading retention device for retaining lading within the cargo compartment comprising:

a cargo container upright side wall,

a pair of elongated lengthwise extending belt rails mounted in horizontal extension on said wall,

each belt rail having a first wall engaging inner plate portion mounted on said wall and a second intermediate sloped plate portion extending from said inner plate portion outwardly of the wall in bias fashion and a third outer plate portion connecting with the outer end of the sloped plate portion and being generally parallel to the inner plate portion,

said elongated lenghwise slot between the said rails being of sufficient height to only allow the shaft portion therethrough but not the disc portion,

said anchor having a belt coupling portion with a belt slot and connecting with said shaft portion outwardly of said rails, and

' said disc portion having lugs projecting outwardly therefrom and couplable in vertically spaced apertures of the adjacent rails for holding the anchor in a fixed position when tied to lading.

9. The invention according to claim 8, and

said shaft portion being sloped at an acute angle with respect to said base disc portion for keeping the device close to the cargo wall out of the way of the lading.

10. The invention according to claim 8, and

said belt coupling portion being pivotally attached to said anchor shaft portion to allow the belt coupling portion to hang close to" the wall.

11. The invention according to claim 8, and

said lugs being four in number, each lug being spaced generally from the other around a generally circular path whereby the lugs may rotate generally 90 to either of twopositions to permit the belt slot in the belt coupling portion to be generally vertical or horizontal to restrain lading in one of two ways. 

1. A lading retention device for restraining lading within a cargo compartment comprising: a pair of elongated lengthwise extending and vertically spaced belt rails, each belt rail having a first wall engaging inner plate portion and a second intermediate sloped plate portion and third outer plate portion generally parallel to the inner plate portion, said outer plate portion having a plurality of apertures extending along its length, each outer portion of each rail facing the outer portion of the other rail and defining an elongated lengthwise slot between the rails when placed on the wall of a cargo compartment, an anchor for a lading strap and having a base disc portion adapted to be disposed in a pocket formed behind the two rails between the sloped plate portions thereof and said anchor having a shaft portion extendable through and outwardly of the slot between the rails and said anchor having a belt coupling portion with a belt slot and connecting with said shaft portion outwardly of said rails, said elongated lengthwise slot between said rails being of sufficient height to only allow the shaft portion through but not the disc portion, and said disc portion having lugs projecting outwardly thereform and couplable in vertically spaced apertures of the adjacent rails for holding the anchor in a fixed position when tied to lading.
 2. The invention according to claim 1, and each belt rail being generally Z-shaped.
 3. The invention according to claim 1, and said shaft portion being sloped at an acute angle with respect to said base disc portion for keeping the device close to the cargo wall out of the way of the lading.
 4. The invention according to claim 1, and said belt coupling portion being pivotally attached to said anchor shaft portion to allow the belt coupling to hang close to the wall.
 5. The invention according to claim 1, and said lugs being four in number, each lug being spaced generally 90* from the other around a generally circular path whereby the lugs may rotate generally 90* to either of two positions to permit the belt slot in the belt coupling portion to be generally vertical or horizontal to restrain lading in one of two ways.
 6. The invention according to claim 1, and buckle means to couple the portions of lading belt together about the lading.
 7. The invention according to claim 1, and an angle plate with belt guide surfaces for fitting on lading corners to receive the belt as the belt passes about lading corners.
 8. In a cargo container, a lading retention device for retaining lading within the cargo compartment comprising: a cargo container upright side wall, a pair of elongated lengthwise extending belt rails mounted in horizontal extension on said wall, each belt rail having a first wall engaging inner plate portion mounted on said wall and a second intermediate sloped plate portion extendinG from said inner plate portion outwardly of the wall in bias fashion and a third outer plate portion connecting with the outer end of the sloped plate portion and being generally parallel to the inner plate portion, said outer plate portion having a plurality of apertures extending along its length, an anchor for a lading strap and having a base disc portion disposed in a pocket formed behind the two rails and between the rails and the wall and between the sloped plate portions thereof, said anchor having a shaft portion extendable through and outwardly of the slot between the rails, said elongated lenghwise slot between the said rails being of sufficient height to only allow the shaft portion therethrough but not the disc portion, said anchor having a belt coupling portion with a belt slot and connecting with said shaft portion outwardly of said rails, and said disc portion having lugs projecting outwardly therefrom and couplable in vertically spaced apertures of the adjacent rails for holding the anchor in a fixed position when tied to lading.
 9. The invention according to claim 8, and said shaft portion being sloped at an acute angle with respect to said base disc portion for keeping the device close to the cargo wall out of the way of the lading.
 10. The invention according to claim 8, and said belt coupling portion being pivotally attached to said anchor shaft portion to allow the belt coupling portion to hang close to the wall.
 11. The invention according to claim 8, and said lugs being four in number, each lug being spaced generally 90* from the other around a generally circular path whereby the lugs may rotate generally 90* to either of two positions to permit the belt slot in the belt coupling portion to be generally vertical or horizontal to restrain lading in one of two ways. 